A former teacher at East Rankin Academy has been arrested by agents from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.

Allison Evans Slonaker, 42, is charged with one count of gratification of lust and one count of exploitation of a child, MBI officials said.

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Slonaker is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an 11-year-old male student at the school, authorities said.

"This is a crime in which this lady should have recognized she is an adult, the victim is a child. What she was doing was inappropriate," Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest said. "It went above the communications. It did go to where there was sexual contact. This isn't something just happened overnight. This was an ongoing development of a relationship,:

East Rankin Academy Headmaster Dan R. Boyce said MBI agents notified the school of the allegations.

"At all times following notification of the criminal investigation, East Rankin Academy has cooperated fully with authorities and has complied with all requests for information relevant to the investigation," Boyce said in a statement. "East Rankin Academy will continue to cooperate fully with authorities during the process of the investigation and comply with all requests for assistance from law enforcement authorities."

Boyce said Slonaker "voluntarily left employment" months before the school learned of the criminal investigation.

"The conduct alleged, if true, took place at a location away from school grounds," Boyce said.

Slonaker, of Hattiesburg, made an initial court appearance Tuesday in Rankin County, where bond was set at a combined $250,000. Slonaker is being held at the Rankin County Detention Center.

"I hope by the actions of the judge, by placing such a high bond on this defendant, others will see the very serious nature of their actions," Guest said.